The third vice president and minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, admitted on Tuesday that the Government does not like “at all” that Spain continues to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, although “it is very difficult to impose something if there is no standard ” for it. Specifically, he added during the press conference following the end of the informal meeting of the European Union’s Energy and Environment ministers that Valladolid hosted that “there is no standard, neither European nor national, that expressly prohibits it because it does not there are limitations to that importation”.
Ribera has specified that “we live in a country in which the Rule of Law and the rules sometimes present us with circumstances that are not the favourites”, the minister affirmed. “Do we like it? No. Have we asked the intermediaries, the operators, to reduce and not sign new contracts? Yes, we have requested it verbally and in writing,” added the minister.
The third vice president explained that the large traditional operators deny having increased import volumes compared to what was already agreed and that they have not signed new contracts, so the trend could come from other ‘traders’. “We don’t like anything, but it’s very difficult to impose something if there isn’t a standard that enables that industry,” she has sentenced.
Less Russian gas purchases
Specifically, according to the Enagás Statistical Bulletin, Russia was the first country of origin for natural gas imported by Spain in June. Specifically, 7,673 gigawatt hours (GWh) were acquired in the sixth month of the year compared to the 8,752 GWh acquired in the same month last year. What was purchased in June from the country presided over by Vladimir Putin represents 26.8% of everything imported. If you look at the accumulated data for the year, Russia is the third market from which we purchase natural gas. Specifically, 20.1% and a total of 41,145 GWh. They are only surpassed by Algeria and the United States.
